Letter from Smith Tuttle, circa 15 September 1841

Dr Sir. My friend recd. a letter from you a few days since dated 25 Aug. in relation to the property he sold you & in which you probably know that myself & had some interest & which must be my apology for writing you— Knowing as I do ’ feelings toward you I was surprized to hear you accuse him of wishing to crush you in the germ— You have not a firmer friend in this part of the Country than — I will state what has taken place in relation to the interest due us, I will endeavor to do it in such a manner as to be understood although not briliant in style— As you state your brother & called on us about the last of March in relation to the amt due us & proposed giving us lands in & for a part or the whole of our claim as they could arrange for them The proposition to me was sudden (as I stated to them) and I did not like to agree to it without consulting (now a resident of your ) on the subject, but agreed to take lands for two yrs interest as proposed that would yield us six per cent Interest— On leaving us it was agreed that should carry out the arrangement as your brother was then going home (to )— said he wished to go to on business (I think the Indian Agency) & on his return to in a few days he would write us & we were to meet him there & carry out the arrangement— We waited some time but hearing nothing from wrote him both at & but got no reply & we remained in this state of suspense untill (I think) 26th July, about 4 months when we received a letter from from stating that he was then on his way to & that your brother at New Egypt N. J. would transfer a house & some land to him to apply on his individual note for $2500 which was signed by & , but did not even allude to the arrangement we had made in the Spring in relation to our interest, although I think he stated that he had recd one of s letters.— under these circumstances we felt disappointed & neglected & could not account for the course pursued & under the impressions caused by this disappointment wrote you— You will see therefore that we have never had an opportunity to receive any lands. & I have no doubt that if the first arrangement had [p. [1]]